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From the Rocky Mountain Showdown to the Border War and Battle for the Ram-Falcon Trophy, Colorado State University has a lot of pride and trophies on the line three times a year in football and 10 more combined between the two basketball programs.

Fans love it, players get emotional and even coaches like Jim McElwain and Larry Eustachy get caught up in the heat of things during media interviews leading up to the big game.

Still, there are a few annual rivalry opportunities floating around that I feel have a lot of potential. I understand there are usually easy explanations for why these games arenít played, but I donít want to dive into that.

Instead, I just want to lay it out there. Here are three rivalries the CSU Rams should take advantage of.

Football vs. Northern Colorado

Series: 17-0-1, CSU

I see no problem in programs outside the perennial Top 10 scheduling FCS opponents. Generally, theyíre almost guaranteed wins, so long as itís not North Dakota State youíre playing (Kansas and Minnesota know the Ramsí pain, too). When it comes to programs like CSU that are in the building process, why not add an easy victory to boost a little confidence?

CSU has played an FCS opponent seven of the last eight seasons (including 2013), with five of those teams coming from Northern Coloradoís conference, the Big Sky, but only once in that time frame have the Rams and Bears met.

Prior to my return to Fort Collins, I spent a year after graduation working in Northwest Arkansas. Arkansas State fans want to play the Razorbacks in football, but Arkansas wonít agree to it because the game does nothing for its program. It wonít increase exposure and a loss would be embarrassing.

The same argument could be made for CSU vs. UNC in favor of the Rams; however, what increased exposure does bringing Cal Poly or Sacramento State into Hughes Stadium provide?

If CSU is going to play an FCS team on a regular basis, make it UNC.

Basketball vs. Nebraska

Series: 7-3, Nebraska

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Larry Eustachy isnít going anywhere soon, nor is Tim Miles up in Lincoln. Why not schedule Nebraska as an annual opponent, rotating home floors each season?

No matter how good (or bad) Nebraska is, playing a Big 10 opponent in nonconference looks solid for an NCAA tournament resume, and thanks to what Miles did to build the Rams and the job Eustachy is doing to sustain it, I canít imagine CSU having an RPI worse than 75 anytime soon.

This game would be a guaranteed sellout each time it came to Moby Arena with how many Nebraska fans live along the Front Range. Trust me, there are enough Huskers floating around our office.

This rivalry would be a win for both sides.

Volleyball vs. Colorado

Series: 22-11, CSU

Is there anything more frustrating when the Ramsí volleyball schedule is released each season than not seeing CU on it?

CSU holds a significant advantage in the all-time series, especially since Tom Hilbert took over the program in 1997, but 2013 will be the third consecutive season the Rams and Buffaloes havenít met, which is a shame.

Itís such a big rivalry on the gridiron and hardwood. It should be the same across the net.